Golden chance to meet their hockey hero

Meghan Duggan (10) of the United States battles along the boards against Yekaterina Nikolayeva of Russia during the Winter Olympics. Duggan helped the U.S. capture the gold medal in women's hockey. AP PHOTO

TEWKSBURY -- Sunday won't be a day 10-year-old hockey player Grace Collins will forget anytime soon.

In the afternoon, the Billerica resident, a left wing for the East Coast Wizards, and her teammates, just got done winning the Massachusetts Hockey State Championship Tournament in the girls 10-and-under Tier II bracket.

A few hours later, she was chatting it up with her hero -- women's ice hockey Olympic gold medalist Meghan Duggan.

Collins and many other Duggan fans had the chance to meet the star hockey player and get her autograph at Market Basket on Sunday.

"Meeting her was amazing," Grace said while standing next to her mother Melissa. "She's a true sport and she's an amazing hockey player.

Olympic hockey player Meghan Duggan shows her medal while taking a picture with Lowell's Brianna Kerchner.

She never gives up and tries her hardest all the time, and she's my hero."

After snapping photos with several Market Basket employees upon her arrival at the store, Duggan -- with the gold medal around her neck -- walked in to a long line of fans who greeted her with a cheer.

Duggan, a Danvers native and the captain of the Olympic team, said she returned to the U.S. from the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on March 1. After a victory lap around the country with her teammates, she returned home to Massachusetts to continue the celebration.

Duggan has appeared in two Olympic games, with the U.S. Women's National Team winning silver both times.

This time they took home the gold after defeating Canada in a 3-2 shootout victory.

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"It was the greatest feeling in the world," said Duggan, who served as the team's captain. "I'm just really proud of the team and what we were able to accomplish as a group. It's very special for us and to now, come home with our hometowns, it's awesome."

Grace, who wore a gold medal of her own from the state championship, took a photo with Duggan, both holding up their gold medals. Duggan also signed the 10-year-old's medal.

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